Delta Gammas nationwide give more than 90,000 hours a year in volunteer service in a variety of ways to their communities. However, the work of the Foundation extends beyond service.

Delta Gamma Foundation Mission Statement:
Delta Gamma Foundation offers all members lifetime enrichment through educational growth, personal development and opportunities for philanthropic service in the highest spirit of social responsibility.

History of service nationwide:

Although Delta Gamma's good work actually began in 1873 when the Founders adopted the motto "Do Good," the Foundation was not incorporated until 1951. Early in the 1900s, the Student Loan Fund was established.

The meeting of wartime emergencies in 1914 led to Delta Gamma's support of a hospital in Holland and a home for war orphans in Belgium.

In 1936, at the urging of blind member Ruth Billow, Eta-Akron, Delta Gammas adopted Sight Conservation and Aid to the Blind as an international project.

Delta Gamma's work for the visually impaired became unique among philanthropies as members answered the needs within their own communities as well as on the international scene.

The Ruth Billow Memorial Fund provides financial aid to visually impaired members and educational grants to those members pursuing careers in services to the visually impaired.

Scholarships were added to the Grants and Loans program in 1957. More than $300,000 is awarded annually in scholarships, fellowships, and loans to recognize and assist outstanding members.

In recent years, the scope of the Foundation has expanded to include a wellness program, Well Aware; a career networking system, Cable Connection; and educational programming and leadership training. In 1990, the Delta Gamma Foundation acquired ART OF THE EYE, an educational exhibit created by professional artists who are visually impaired. All of the Foundation activities are supported by staff housed in the Dorothy Garrett Martin Foundation Center at Delta Gamma Executive Offices in Columbus, Ohio.

Foundation Activities Descriptions (links provide more information from our international web page):

ART OF THE EYE/ART OF THE EYE II: An Exhibition on Vision, is a collection of 54 mixed media works of art by professional artists who are visually impaired or blind.

Cable Connection: A professional networking program sponsored by the Delta Gamma Foundation.

The Charter Group: An open circle of Delta Gammas who are supporting and strengthening Delta Gamma Foundation programs by making planned gifts.

Collegiate Development Consultant Program: A program is to promote communication between the Fraternity and the collegiate chapters. A Delta Gamma Collegiate Development Consultant is a recent graduate employed and trained to make authorized chapter visits.

Faculty Awards: The Delta Gamma Foundation established the Faculty Award to recognize excellence in faculty members who teach undergraduates.

H.K. Stuart Spirit of Service Award: An award reserved for collegiate and alumnae chapters, associations and hope groups that evidence the spirit of dedication and service which is exemplified in the life of H.K. Stuart, an initiate of Kappa-Nebraska.

Honor Society Rebates: The Delta Gamma Foundation recognizes the outstanding academic achievement of collegiate members by paying up to $50 toward their Initiation fees upon selection to the following five national academic honor societies: Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Chi, Tau Beta Pi and Beta Gamma Sigma.

Lamp of Knowledge: Delta Gamma is always looking for new ways to reaffirm our commitment to exemplary scholarship. Since 1988, the Delta Gamma Foundation has underwritten a program that rewards undergraduate members who earn a 4.0 grade point average. These special students receive a gold Lamp of Knowledge dangle (pictured here) in recognition of their scholastic excellence.

Labels for Education™: The Campbell's® Label for Education™ program is a successful Foundation service project. During 2001-2002, Delta Gammas collected 88,473 labels!

Leadership for Life: Leadership for Life will provide leadership development education for all Delta Gammas, from the newest new member to members celebrating 50, 60, even 70 years of membership!

Leveraging Leaders: A program designed to financially support the development of leadership skills for Delta Gamma collegiate and alumnae members.

Ruth Billow Memorial Fund: The fund gives special consideration to members who are blind or visually impaired. The fund also offers scholarships and fellowships to Delta Gammas pursuing degrees in the field of sight preservation or assistance to persons who are blind or visually impaired.

Scholarships, Fellowships and Loans: The Delta Gamma Foundation is the Greek leader in supporting its members through educational grants and loans. Through the Scholarships, Fellowships and Loans Committee, the Delta Gamma Foundation offers scholarships for undergraduate work; fellowships for graduate study; and loans for any form of higher education beyond the sophomore year.

Service for Sight: Protecting the gift of sight is one of Delta Gamma's highest priorities. Since 1936, Delta Gamma's philanthropic purpose has been to stop blindness before it starts.

Well Aware: Delta Gamma's wellness program, is a collection of programs, activities and references compiled to promote awareness and education on wellness topics.

Eta Kappa Chapter of Delta Gamma
About Web Page
Last Updated:6/06/2006
Page Maintained by Kelsey Mitman
© 2006 Eta Kappa, Delta Gamma.